Wednesday, June 28, 2023
The Cipher Brief curates open source information from around the world that impacts national security. Here's a look at today's headlines, broken down by region of the world:
In the Americas
U.S. Intelligence Failures Led Up to January 6 Capitol Attack. Democrats on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee issued a report on Tuesday that said government agencies responsible for detecting security issues downplayed the threat posed on January 6th, even as the Capitol building was being stormed. The report stated that intelligence personnel at the FBI, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and other agencies ignored warnings of violence as early as December of 2020 concerning Congress’ certification of Joe Biden as the 46th president. In the days leading up to the attack, the report said intelligence agencies had identified calls for storming the Capitol, but as late as the morning of January 6th, officials at the DHS said there was no “indication of civil disobedience.” Even after the Capitol was under “lockdown,” DHS officials reported “no credible information” to act on. The report added that after the attack, agencies blamed each other for failing to prevent it. The report did note that during the 2020 George Floyd protests, the DHS was criticized for “over-collecting intelligence on American citizens” resulting “in a pendulum swing over which analysts were then hesitant to report open-source intelligence they were seeing in the lead-up to January 6th.” Reuters
U.S. Sanctions Wagner Group’s Africa Network. The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned companies accused of supporting the Wagner Group, particular entities in the Central African Republic and Mali thought to be engaged in “illicit gold dealings” and exploitation of minerals, gems and other precious metals to fund the mercenary group. The U.S. previously labeled Wagner a “transnational criminal organization” and sanctioned its leaders. The Wagner Group did not immediately respond to the allegations. Politico Reuters The Hill U.S. Department of the Treasury
Mexico Proposes Giving Navy Control of Mexico City Airport. Mexico is set to approve a draft decree that will transfer control of the Mexico City International Airport (AICM) to the Mexican navy. Mexico’s transportation ministry currently administers the AICM, though the navy already manages its security operations, including customs. The move would add to Mexican President Manuel Lopez Obrador’s efforts to expand the Mexican military’s role in providing security for the aviation sector. Officials say the move would boost airport security and help it generate funds from the airport-use tax, which are used to pay off bondholders that financed the construction of an airport that Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador moved to the outskirts of the capital. Reuters
Western Europe
France, Germany ‘Missing in Action’ in EU Defense Leadership. The Munich Security Conference on European Defense released a report that criticized lack of leadership and narrow industrial interests for blocking EU defense cooperation and support for Ukraine. The report particularly called out Germany and France for being “missing in action” as EU leaders like European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell are leading European efforts for joint procurement and defense collaboration. The report said Germany and France have had their credibility in eastern Europe and joint defense initiatives significantly impacted from their initial reluctance in backing Kyiv and their history of neglecting eastern European concerns about Russia. The report added that it is up to Berlin and Paris to take stronger action to “win back trust.” Reuters
Hungarian Foreign Minister Criticizes EU De-Risking from China. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto criticized the EU’s de-risking strategy to distance the bloc from China, warning that it would be “a brutal suicide” for the EU economy. The EU has sought to lessen dependence on China critical supply chains following challenges from sudden cuts in energy ties with Russia at the start of the Ukraine war. Szijjarto said that instead of doing this, the EU should fix its relationship with China, saying that it is rational and common sense to expand economic ties and cooperate with Beijing. Hungary is considered one of the more China friendly EU states and has blocked several joint statements criticizing Beijing. South China Morning Post
France Increases Security after Protests over Teen’s Death by Police. The French government on Wednesday declared increased police forces around Paris and other large cities and urged the public to remain calm after violent protests flared up over the shooting death of a 17-year-old delivery driver. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin reported that 25 police officers were wounded, 31 people arrested, and 40 vehicles burned during the unrest throughout several cities. Police have used dispersion grenades and tear gas against protestors who threw firecrackers and lit cars on fire. 1,200 police were deployed, and on Wednesday 2,000 will be on patrol. Attorneys say 17-year-old Nael M. was shot and killed by police during a traffic check on Tuesday. The officer responsible was detained and persecutors will reportedly pursue manslaughter charges. Associated Press Al Jazeera
Central and Eastern Europe
Zelensky Rules Out Prospect of Frozen Conflict. President Volodymyr Zelensky ruled out any peace plan that freezes territorial gains made by Russia since it invaded Ukraine. "Ukraine will not agree to any of the variants for a frozen conflict," he said. The Ukrainian leader made his comments during a speech to parliament on Ukraine's Constitution Day, one day after Russian President Vladimir Putin praised his forces for their handling of a mutiny by led by Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin. Zelensky then called Kremlin leadership “bandits who seized control of the state institutions of Russia... and began to terrorize the whole world." Reuters
Prigozhin Begins Exile in Belarus. Wagner Group head Yevgeny Prigozhin has reportedly arrived in Belarus to start his exile under the deal that ended the mutiny by his mercenary organization. Flight tracking data showed that a plane linked to Prigozhin had left from the southern Russian city of Rostov, which Wagner fighters captured during the mutiny, and landed in Belarus on Tuesday. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko confirmed that he had arrived in the country. He also said he offered an “abandoned base” in Belarus to Prigozhin and some Wagner fighters who followed him, though he said most Wagner troops are currently at their camps in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine. It is unclear if other Wagner units will follow Prigozhin to Belarus. Lukashenko also denied media reports that Belarus is constructing bases for the mercenaries, though he said if they want them “we will place them.” He added that Belarus should not be scared of the Wagner units and said they could provide Belarus with “priceless” warfare strategies and tactics. He also said Wagner fighters will not guard Russian tactical nuclear weapons stationed in Belarus. Reuters The Guardian The New York Times
Belarus’ Lukashenko Touts Role in Ending Wagner Mutiny. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Tuesday that he convinced Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin in an emotional, expletive-laden phone call to end a mutiny against the Kremlin in exchange for safe passage and exile in Belarus. Lukashenko stated that he tried for hours to reason with Prigozhin, who told the Belarusian leader that he was furious at the corruption and incompetence in the Russian military and wanted to avenge an alleged military attack on his men. Lukashenko said he told Prigozhin that "nobody will give you either Shoigu or Gerasimov,” convincing him that Moscow would be defended against the Wagner mutineers and that if Prigozhin continued his uprising, it would dramatically harm Russia. Regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin, Lukashenko said he had wanted to “wipe out” the Wagner mutineers, but the Belarusian leader said to engage with Prigozhin. Putin then reportedly said the Wagner chief was not accepting his calls, which was when Lukashenko became involved as a mediator. BBC Reuters
Russia Drops Charges Against Wagner Fighters, Says They Are Handing Over Weapons. The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Tuesday that it has dropped the criminal case against members of the Wagner Group who participated in the mutiny against Moscow over the weekend. Russian state media said the charges were dropped since the mutineers “ceased actions directly aimed at committing the crime.” The FSB said due to this and other relevant circumstances, it moved to close the criminal case. The Russian defense ministry added that the Wagner Group is preparing to lay down its arms, saying that the mercenary group will transfer its “heavy military equipment” to the Russian military. Al Jazeera New York Times Politico
Russian General Knew of Wagner Mutiny, Says US. According to US officials, senior Russian General Sergei Surovikin had knowledge of Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin’s scheme to mutiny against Russia’s military heads. Authorities and analysts speculate whether or not Surovikin, a respected leader and former top commander in Ukraine, may have aided Prigozhin in his short-lived insurrection, which has presented the strongest and most public threat to Russia President Vladimir Putin’s power. American officials also believe there are indications that several people in positions of power knew of the rebellion and helped Prigozhin carry it out, as it is unlikely the mercenary would have attempted to overthrow the Defense Ministry without support. Surovikin, who was replaced as commander in Ukraine in January, has reportedly remained influential with war activities and is well-liked by Russian troops. U.S. analysts say that at this time, it seems Putin intends to blame the mutiny solely on Prigozhin rather than Surovikin or others. It is unknown if Putin believes that Surovikin or others aided the Wagner Group. Officials say that the possibility that others within Russian leadership, specifically General Surovikin, knew of Prigozhin’s plan signals signs of infighting, divided loyalties, and significant cracks within the Russian military’s authority. New York Times
Putin Says Wagner Group Fully Funded by Russian Government. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that the “upkeep of the Wagner group was entirely funded by the state,” saying that Moscow had provided the mercenary organization with 86 billion rubles, or around $1 billion, for salaries and insurance between May 2022 to May 2023. In addition, Wagner Group head Yevgeny Prigozhin’s catering business, Concord, was given another 80 billion rubles in contracts to provide food to the Russian military. Putin signaled that authorities will review the Russian government’s support of Wagner, saying that he hopes no one in the group “stole anything, or didn’t steal that much” and that “we will look into all this.” BBC Reuters
Putin Thanks Military for Response to Wagner Mutiny. Russian President Vladimir Putin gathered the country’s military and security leadership and 2,500 members of Russian forces on Tuesday to congratulate them for “sheltering our motherland from cataclysms, and in fact stopping civil war.” Putin’s comments came after the Wagner Group rebellion over the weekend, which he said the Russian military acted loyally and responsibly against, preventing civilians from harm and protecting key defense facilities. Notably, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu was present at the address, signaling that he likely will not be replaced, which was one of Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin’s demands in his mutiny. Al Jazeera CNN France 24 Reuters The Hill Wall Street Journal
Russian National Guard Seeking Tanks, Heavy Weaponry. Russia’s National Guard is reportedly getting tanks and heavy weaponry. The head of the national guard, Viktor Zolotov, told Russian state media that the force currently does not have such equipment and will receive it based on “funding.” His comments came after the Russian Defense Ministry said the Wagner Group is transferring its heavy equipment to Russian forces, which may include the national guard. The national guard may be seeking to bolster its capabilities in response to the lack of resistance the Wagner mutineers faced enroute to Moscow. Zolotov suggested that this happened since the national guard focused itself on Moscow to defend the capital from attack. Regarding the mutiny, Zolotov added that he thinks the Wagner rebellion was “inspired by the West and superimposed on Prigozhin’s ambitions.” He also said the national guard had information about the mutiny before it began from “Prigozhin’s circle.” Moscow Times
Eastern NATO Allies Raise Alarm Over Wagner Move to Belarus. Eastern European NATO allies are raising concerns over the move of Wagner Group forces to Belarus. Wagner Group head Yevgeny Prigozhin has been exiled to Belarus, and at least some of his men have joined him. Neighbors of Belarus say the presence of the mercenaries may pose a threat. Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nauseda warned the presence of Wagner Group’s “serial killers” in Belarus could lead to regional instability. Polish President Andrzej Duda echoed this, saying the Wagner deployment to Belarus sends “very negative signals” and that NATO needs ta “very tough answer” in response. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg maintains NATO will protect its members in the region, saying the alliance has bolstered its eastern flank and made it clear to Minsk and Moscow that it will protect its territory. Reuters
Russia Strike on Kramatorsk Kills Nine. Two Russian missiles hit the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk on Tuesday, killing at least nine people, including three children, and injuring at least 56 others. The strike destroyed a restaurant next to a hotel. Emergency workers are at the scene. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack as a “manifestation of terror” and a White House National Security Council spokesperson condemned the “brutal strikes.” Al Jazeera Reuters Associated Press
Ukraine Reprimands Kyiv Mayor Over Bomb Shelter Scandal. The Ukrainian government reprimanded Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko on Tuesday over criticism for the state of bomb shelters in the city. Ukraine’s government also dismissed two heads of Kyiv districts and two acting heads of districts over the bomb shelters in the capital, as well as district officials in other parts of the country for the state of bomb shelters there. The moves came after three people were locked out of a bomb shelter during a Russian air raid and killed on June 1, which prompted an audit of bomb shelters in Ukraine that found only 77% of shelters in the country were fit for use and that many did not “meet any standards.” Klitschko, who said he bore some responsibility for the June 1 incident but that others, including presidential appointees in Kyiv, were also to blame, did not comment on the reprimand. It is unclear if the government will take further action against him. Reuters
Ukraine Says Forced to Rely on Danube Ports Because Russia Blocking Black Sea. The Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority has announced that Ukraine needs to rely on exporting grain almost exclusively through Danube River ports due to Russia’s blockade of Black Sea ports. Though the UN and Turkey have brokered a deal between Moscow and Kyiv last July in regard to the transport of grain from Black Sea ports, Moscow has threatened to not extend the deal beyond July 18 unless its demand for an increase in Russian grain and fertilizer exports is met. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that if Russia refuses to extend the deal, Kyiv has considered sending grain exports through Romanian territory to its port city of Constanta. Reuters
Asia and Oceania
China Envoy to EU Suggests Beijing Return of Occupied Territories to Ukraine, Including Crimea. China’s EU envoy, Fu Cong, suggested that Beijing could support Ukraine’s goal to restore its territorial integrity by returning to the borders it had in 1991, which includes returning Russian-occupied Crimea to Ukrainian control. When asked in an interview with Al Jazeera and other media outlets about backing Kyiv’s aims of reclaiming Russian-occupied areas, he said “I don’t see why not.” He added that China respects the “territorial integrity of all countries,” though he also said there are “historical issues that need to be negotiated and resolved.” Fu has made similar comments in the past, saying in a New York Times interview in April that China does not endorse Russia’s effort to annex Ukrainian territories, namely Crimea and Donbas. Fu also said in his interview that China has made its position on Ukraine “very clear,” saying that Beijing advocates for reaching a negotiated peace as soon as possible. Al Jazeera
China’s Xi Meets New Zealand PM, Calls for Deeper Trade, Investment. New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday. Xi told Hipkins, who is on a six-day visit to China leading a trade delegation that includes some of New Zealand’s top companies, that their countries should see each other as “partners, not adversaries, and as opportunities, not threats.” Xi emphasized the need for stronger business and investment ties, as well as non-governmental exchanges in education, culture and tourism. Hipkins said the meeting was “warm and constructive” and that bilateral economic relations topped the agenda, adding that he came to China with the goal of “diversifying the breadth of our export offering” beyond agricultural sectors. In a later statement on Wednesday, New Zealand’s government publicly endorsed China’s participation in both the Asia-Pacific region Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA). China has been New Zealand’s biggest export partner since 2013. Hipkins’ push for deeper trade ties counters calls from Western nations for “de-risking” with China. Beyond economic issues, Hipkins said he and Xi discussed engagement where “our cultures and political systems differ.” Last week, Hipkins said he disagreed with President Joe Biden’s comment that Xi is a “dictator,” saying that “the form of government that China has is a matter for the Chinese people.” Reuters South China Morning Post
China Proposes Greater Military Cooperation with Vietnam. Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu on Tuesday told his Vietnamese counterpart, Phan Van Giang, that their militaries should “unite closely” amid a period of increased tensions in the Indo-Pacific. In talks in Beijing, Li said that China and Vietnam should “strengthen high-level communication” and “deepen practical cooperation” between their militaries. Phan said Vietnam was open to border defense exchanges and personnel training. The two defense chiefs did not mention maritime territorial disputes between their countries in the South China Sea. Li and Phan’s meeting came after the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan made a stop in the Vietnamese port of Danang on Sunday, an event that has happened only three times since the end of the Vietnam war. The visit was closely watched by China, as competition for influence in the region intensifies amid heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing. Li, who is currently under US sanctions for his part in purchasing weapons from Russia in 2017, recently met with Thailand’s army head and South Africa’s defense commander. He has not yet agreed to any talks with U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin. Reuters South China Morning Post
China Building Third Icebreaker. China has begun constructing its third icebreaker, which scientists say could be completed for Arctic expeditions by as early as 2025. China currently has two icebreakers, Xuelong 1 and Xuelong 2, which primarily resupply China’s seven stations in the North and South Poles, as well as support research on ice camps, atmospheric composition, and polar marine environments. The new icebreaker will reportedly be focused on deep-sea exploration and scientific research, including crewed deep diving. The vessel could help China become the second country to send scientists to the Arctic sea floor in deep-sea crewed submarines. Only Russia has sent submersibles to the seabed of the North Pole. South China Morning Post
Taiwan Reports Two Russian Warships Off Coast. Taiwan’s defense ministry on Tuesday alleged that it spotted two Russian warships off the island’s eastern coast. The ministry said the ships sailed north off the island’s eastern coast, before heading in a southeasterly direction off the Taiwanese port of Suao, which is home to a large Taiwanese naval base. Taiwan responded by sending an aircraft and ships to observe the ships and activating the island’s shore-based missile system. According to Russia’s Interfax news agency, the ships were part of the Russian Pacific Fleet and were performing tasks related to a long-range sea passage. Reuters
Taiwan Vows to Down Chinese Balloons. Taiwan’s defense ministry vowed on Tuesday to destroy Chinese balloons seen as “intimidating or risky” to the island. Military officials said such balloons will be downed to “uphold our security,” and added that Taipei is effectively tracking movements of balloons from China, in part with “exchange of intelligence with other allies.” Taiwanese military officials added that most Chinese balloons flying near Taiwan have been “released by meteorological or observatory units” so far and did not elaborate how many balloons had been found or if any had been used for spying. The Taiwan defense ministry’s remarks on the balloons came after the BBC reported that satellite data analyzed by artificial intelligence company Synthetaic showed evidence of potential Chinese spy balloons in East Asia, including balloons that crossed Japan and Taiwan in September 2021. Japan previously said on Monday that it confirmed Chinese balloons flew over its territory and was prepared to shoot down future threatening balloons. South China Morning Post
South Korea Imposes Sanctions Over North Korea Weapons Program. South Korea imposed sanctions on two individuals and two entities suspected of supporting North Korea’s weapons programs on Wednesday. The South Korean foreign ministry said the sanctions target Choi Chon Gon, a former South Korean national who acquired Russian citizenship, two companies that Choi owns and a North Korean who reportedly supported Choi. Choi was targeted for his alleged involvement in North Korea’s illicit financial activities after becoming a Russian national. The ministry noted that the measures mark the first time Seoul has sanctioned an individual of Korean descent. Reuters
UN Reports Over 1,000 Afghan Civilians Killed Since 2021 Taliban Takeover. A United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) report says that it has recorded a significant number of civilians in Afghanistan who have been killed and wounded in attacks since the Taliban took over in 2021. The report noted that 1,095 civilians in the country have been killed and 2,679 wounded between August 15, 2021 and May 2023. The majority of the deaths occurred via improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and suicide bombings. According to the UNAMA, the Taliban was responsible for the majority of the attacks and the deadliness of these attacks had increased despite a decrease in the number of attacks overtime. Additionally, 1,700 casualties, including injuries, were attributed to attacks by ISIL. The report also highlighted that the sharp drop of outside funding since the Taliban takeover, has caused Afghans to lose access to “medical, financial, and psychosocial support,” further complicating the situation on the ground. Al Jazeera
Middle East and Northern Africa
Israel Seizes Digital Funds Linked to Hezbollah, IRGA. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced on Tuesday that the Israeli defense ministry has seized millions in digital funds that were intended for Hezbollah and the foreign Quds Force arm of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. Gallant said that the funds were seized as part of an operation he approved to identify and confiscate funds being laundered by organizations with intentions of supporting Iran with the funds. Since the beginning of the year, this operation has thwarted the transfer of several million dollars by these groups, according to the defense ministry. Reuters
Israeli PM Invited to Beijing, US Still Key Ally. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced to visiting US Congress members on Tuesday that he has been invited to visit Beijing. Netanyahu said that he notified the Biden administration of the invitation and emphasized that the U.S. is still a key ally to Israel. The Israeli government has not disclosed when the trip will take place. Reuters Associated Press
Russia Protests Israeli Envoy to Kyiv’s Comments. The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned Israel’s charge d’affaires in Moscow to protest recent comments by Israel’s ambassador to Ukraine, Michael Brodsky, praising two controversial World War Two resistance fighters. On Thursday, Brodsky gave an interview on Thursday to discuss Israeli support for Ukraine. At one point, he discussed the fighters, Roman Shukhevych and Stepan Bandera, saying that “for most Ukrainians, these are heroes who fought for their independence” against the Soviet Union, though he conceded Israel doesn’t like that they are role models since they were allied with Nazi forces at the time. A Russian foreign ministry spokesperson accused Brodsky of glorifying Nazism. An Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson countered by saying that Israel is still opposed to and rejects any type of glorification of those who collaborated with the Nazis and that no one should lecture Israel on the matter. Times of Israel
Sub Saharan Africa
UN Peacekeeping Mission in Mali Set to End. The UN peace-keeping mission in Mali, known as MINUSMA, is scheduled to come to an end on June 30. Mali Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop had previously asked the force to leave “without delay” over long-running tensions between the mission and Mali’s military junta. Talks for a safe withdrawal of MINUSMA are underway, with one plan detailing the mission leaving by December 31, which the Security Council would need to approve by October 30. Operations run by MINUSMA till then would focus on providing security to UN personnel, facilities, convoys along with medical evacuations for UN staff. MINUSMA would still have authorization until the end of the year, in consultation with Mali authorities, to respond to imminent threats of violence to civilians. Reuters
UN Warns Over 1 Million Refugees May Flee Sudan. The U.N. refugee agency stated Tuesday that an earlier estimation that one million refugees would flee from the conflict in Sudan is likely to be surpassed. So far, since the conflict began in April, almost 600,000 people have fled from Sudan to neighboring countries. It was not stated how much greater the new refugee figures would be, though as an example of heightened refugee estimates, the UNHCR said it had to increase its forecast of people fleeing into Chad to 245,000 from 100,000. The U.N. estimates that more than 2.5 million people have been displaced by the conflict, with most currently internally displaced within Sudan. Reuters Al Jazeera
Sudan Army General Urges Young Men to Enlist, Defend Country. The leader of Sudan’s army, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, on Tuesday called on young men to enlist in the military to defend their country. In a speech, General al-Burhan asked “all of the country's youth and all those who can defend not to hesitate or delay in playing this national role in their place of residence or by joining the armed forces." He also declared an “unilateral” ceasefire for the holiday of Eid al Adha on Wednesday. The rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces already announced their own truce for Tuesday and Wednesday, though residents of Khartoum reported hearing continued sounds of air strikes and artillery fire. Reuters
Sierra Leone’s Incumbent President Re-elected. Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio was re-elected Saturday with 56.17 percent of the nation’s vote, but his top rival immediately rejected the results as fabricated. Former foreign minister and challenger to the presidency Samura Kamara said that the results were not “credible,” and wrote on Twitter, “it is a sad day for our beloved country. It is a frontal attack on our fledgling democracy … I categorically reject the outcome so announced by the electoral commission.” Both the European Union and the US have voiced worries about the lack of transparency in the country’s voting process. Al Jazeera
Cyber and Tech
UCLA, Energy Giant, Digital Automation Company Hit by MOVEit Breach. The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), energy giant Siemens Energy, digital automation company Schneider Electric reportedly suffered cyberattacks that used the vulnerability in the MOVEit file transfer tool. The Clop ransomware gang, which claims to be behind the MOVEit breaches, added the three targets to its leak site on Tuesday. UCLA said its IT security team discovered on June 1 that it was targeted and has notified those impacted. Siemens Energy likewise confirmed its systems were breached, but said no critical data was stolen and that its business operations have not been impacted. Schneider Electric said it is investigating claims that it was targeted. Cyberscoop BleepingComputer The Record
Europol Shutdown Of Encrochat Leads To 6,500 Arrests. Europol said on Tuesday that the shutdown of the underground company Encrochat, which supposedly offered criminals encrypted communications services, led to the arrest of 6,500 individuals and the seizure of 900 million euros ($980 million) in assets. Enrochat sold phones promising complete anonymity and its system had around 60,000 users before it was shut down in June 2020. Shortly after, police announced that they had cracked the encryption of EncroChat phones and had been intercepting users’ communications for months. French and Dutch authorities said investigations exposed 115 million “criminal conversations” which helped efforts to prevent “violent attacks, attempted murders, corruption and large scale drugs transports.” At least three of the alleged leaders of EncroChat have been arrested. Associated Press Reuters The Record
Switzerland Warns Russian Cyber Espionage to Increase as Russian Spies Targeted. Switzerland’s Federal Intelligence Service (FIS) is warning that Russian cyber espionage will increase to compensate for the decline of Russia’s human intelligence networks in Europe. The FIS cautioned that entities that would be targeted by this escalation in Russian cyber activity are primarily those “which manage particularly large volumes of sensitive data,” including “financial service providers, state administration and critical infrastructure operators,” as well as businesses like hotels, technology firms that operate social media platforms, communications services, search engines and digital monitoring services. The warning comes as European nations continue to expel hundreds of Russian diplomats suspected of being spies. The FIS added that Russia may be using the Ukraine war as an excuse to “smuggle” spies posing as refugees into Europe, but that these individuals likely do not have the same level of access as a spy working under diplomatic cover, again pointing to cyber espionage as an alternative. The Record
Israel’s Shin Bet Security Service Using AI. The director of Israel’s Shin Bet security service, Ronen Bar, says that the agency is using artificial intelligence in its tradecraft. Bar said the Shin Bet has created its own generative AI platform and is using it to flag anomalies in surveillance data and sort through “endless” intelligence. He added that the AI is also used as a “partner” or “co-pilot” in some decision-making. More widely, Bar said Israel should foster public-private cooperation to responsibly develop AI to ensure it “leads to evolution and revolution.” He also said Israel should review Shin Bet-related legislation and the definition of official secrecy as it considers AI regulations. Reuters
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